Joey McGuire didn’t name Notre Dame, but he didn’t have to. When he praised BYU for joining a conference instead of sticking to an independent schedule like “some people do,” it was clear who the target was. Notre Dame fans didn’t like it. That’s fine. But here’s the part they don’t want to admit: he’s right.
Take a look at Notre Dame’s seven wins this season. Three of them came against the worst teams in the ACC, Big Ten, and SEC. That’s Boston College, Purdue, and Arkansas. Those three teams have a combined 0-18 record in conference play and sit at 5-24 overall. Only two of those wins were against FBS opponents. That’s not competition. That’s stat padding.
This is what independence allows. Notre Dame can fill out its schedule with a handful of headline games and surround them with matchups that wouldn’t survive a full conference rotation. If any other program put together a resume like that, they’d get laughed off the field. But when Notre Dame does it, they get primetime slots and playoff consideration.
McGuire’s point wasn’t just about BYU. It was about accountability. When you play in a real conference, you don’t get to hide. You don’t get to build a schedule with three guaranteed wins against bottom feeders from other leagues. You line up every week against teams that know you, scout you, and are trying to take your spot. That’s what BYU signed up for. Notre Dame hasn’t.
The Irish have built a national brand by doing things their own way. It’s worked for them. But that doesn’t mean other coaches have to pretend it’s the same grind as conference play. McGuire lives in a league where even the mid-tier teams can knock you out of the title race. He’s not wrong to expect the same from anyone who wants to claim a seat at the table.
Notre Dame fans can complain all they want. The numbers speak for themselves. Three of their wins came against teams that haven’t won a single conference game. That’s not a playoff path. That’s a free pass. And McGuire has every right to call it out.
